Broncos quarterback Adam Weber plays during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers in preseason at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012.

DOVE VALLEY — As the Broncos debate whether to keep two or three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, they released their No. 4 quarterback, Adam Weber.

Weber, a second-year player, is a likely candidate to join the practice squad if he clears waivers on Saturday. Weber spent all of 2011 on the practice squad.

Weber did not play in the Broncos’ second preseason game, and played only in the final minutes of each of the last two games. He led a game-winning drive against Arizona Thursday night, thanks to a 45-yard completion to Greg Orton to set up a Matt Prater field goal as time expired.

Haven’t seen anything official, but I seriously doubt Elway is going into the season with just Manning and Osweiler (especially since he was drafted as a project).

Maceano26

Wow Fox has a poor eye for talent! Weber deserves a shot. He played one 10th of the time that Hanie and OZ got and looked 10 times better in that short time! Stupid move

George McDowell

Well, let’s all defer to you. You clearly know more about quarterbacks than a Super Bowl coach and a Hall of Fame QB, League MVP and 5 time Super Bowl QB. Do get a clue before posting here.

H MD

Sarcasm, sarcasm. Tsk. Tsk. You’re saying no one should have an opinion, less actually express it ! It’s called freedom of expression. We live in America. Get used to it.

Dale Healy

They still might cut Hanie, I hope.

Steve

I wonder if they will keep Hanie if a decent backup is available on the waiver wire?

George McDowell

What would bringing in a cut QB who hasn’t spent the last several months learning the Denver offense buy the Broncos. Come on people, use your heads. You make me embarrassed to call myself a Broncos fan.

rscotty

Is it just me? Am I missing something? Weber looks really good to me. At worst he looks like a Kubiek style back up qb.

George McDowell

When Brock is your heir apparent, Hanie is the guy you would go to if Peyton were to miss a couple of weeks (for better or worse), and your starter is Peyton, why on Earth would you keep Weber on your practice squad? No one needs 4 QBs (except the Jets, but only because one of them is really a fullback). Weber doesn’t Hanie’s experience nor Brock’s upside. He’s got no future in Denver. Not sure he has a future in this league.

Domino

Maybe the Broncos like the way he holds the clipboard and stays near the offensive coordinator. Or maybe he has a good attitude and is happy to imitate next Sunday’s QB. I like how in baseball and football, there is more interest in who is not gonna play in real games.

Brad

Hanie’s experience? You mean the three touchdowns against ten interceptions in four years and the 41.6 rating? Yes, we really need his experience.

Eye In the Sky

Hanie blows. He’s another Kyle Orton. That almost makes me want to shut off the TV. At least Tebow made it fun to watch. Peyton is the man, but if he goes down, I would only be interested if Brock comes in to start his apprenticeship. I have no interest in watching Hanie dog it up.

H MD

Too bad Elway never gave Weber a fair chance. The was their “Dead Man Walking” – he was never going to make the roster. Hope he gets picked up by another team which will give him a real opportunity

George McDowell

Let’s see. Elway gave him a contract after no one wanted to draft him. Signed him to the practice squad after not making the team (any team in the NFL could have signed him off the Broncos practice squad right to their roster, but they didn’t), and then after showing very little in training camp or the preseason, Elway (and Fox, and the offensive coordinator) decided that their young QB of the future would be Brock Osweiller instead. I’ll trust Elway’s QB judgements over you and your six Metallica t-shirts.

seminoleup

If there was ever a year the Broncos only kept two qbs, THIS IS THE YEAR. If Manning goes down the season is over, why even bother playing Haine, he’s terrible!

BenFranklinwasHumanToo

All Adam Weber has done is go in, do a fine job and move the ball. He is steady, intelligent and reliable. Anybody that passes him over is missing the whole point. Sorry management… I simply have seen few QB’s do the job Weber has done and still get cut. If you can reclaim him after the waiver clears, grab him and hold on for dear life.

Mike Klis has been with The Denver Post since 1998, after working 13 years with the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph. Major League Baseball was Klis' initial passion. He started covering the Colorado Rockies after Coors Field was approved for construction in August 1990.

Nicki Jhabvala is the Sports Digital News Editor for The Denver Post. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor, and she was most recently the overnight home page editor at the New York Times. She has reported regularly on the Broncos since joining the staff.

A published author and award-winning journalist, Benjamin Hochman is a sports columnist for The Denver Post. He previously worked on the staff of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, winners of two Pulitzer Prizes for their Hurricane Katrina coverage.